Official newsletter of Durham School of the Arts

Thurs June 11: Class of 2026 Graduation

Please view the 2025-26 Calendar for future teacher workdays, holidays, and other important dates.

To reach the main office: Please email dist.frontoffice.323-DSA@dpsnc.net Your message will reach most of the front office staff.

Please send ALL attendance matters to: attendance@DSALMC.net

Hello DSA Families,

The production of the 2025-2026 DSA Yearbook is in full swing, and we want to offer a few reminders about ordering opportunities and deadlines. 

Yearbooks are on sale for $60 and families will be able to order until April 15th.

Senior families, if you are still interested in ordering a Senior Ad, you've got until March 27th order your ad.. Attached to the email accompanying this message are the links you'll need to place your orders. For questions, please reach out to Alphonso_Donaldson@dpsnc.net

The yearbook will be out in May. We are so excited to share it with you!

Yearbook Pre-Order Link

Senior Ad Flyer

Senior Ad Ordering Link

Girls Talk Math is a two-week, free summer camp designed to highlight and uplift students from marginalized groups in mathematics, while welcoming all students who are interested. This camp is for students who enjoy learning and exploring, they do not need to be “the best” at math to apply, just have a willingness to learn, ask questions, and engage.

Camp Details:
• Dates: July 13–24
• Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Before & after care: Available
• Cost: Free
• Who can apply: All are welcome

Students will engage in hands-on activities, learn from mentors, and build confidence in math while connecting with peers who share similar interests.

Applications must be submitted by March 20 for full consideration.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/h1hk46LMSi4gZhdW8
Learn more: https://girlstalkmath.web.unc.edu/

DSA Chorus presents the High School Black and White ball, February 14th at 7pm. Tickets are on sale starting on February 2nd through the 12th during A & B lunch. Tickets are $25 for students and $30 for guests from other high schools. Can't wait to see you there!

Learn about upcoming games, tryouts, and more at the official DSA Athletics website https://dsaathleticzone.com/. You can show your team spirit and get your team swag at the New DSA Athletic Store.   https://www.dpsathleticzone.com/durham-school-of-arts/

• Last Night the HS Basketball team have their final home  contest of the year tonight and both the Varsity Girls and Boys team won their contest!. The Seniors would like to thank you all for your support. Wish them luck as they travel to Orange HS today!
  

• On Monday Feb 9th HS Track will have an interest meeting from 3:30-4pm in Health Room G010.

•  HS Men’s Golf will have their interest meeting Monday Feb 9th from 3:30-4pm in Health Room G001
  

•  The final ticket to play session for HS Spring Sports will be Tuesday Feb 10th during A & B lunch in the weight room. You must have your dragonfly account completed and a hard copy of your physical and concussion form in order to attend.

•  If you attended a clearance session during the fall or winter season already simply send Coach McRae an email with your sport interest and ensure your dragonfly account and forms are updated. Save money by buying your High School All Sports Season Pass today for just $60 on GoFan. This pass gets you unlimited access to all high school athletic regular season home contests for the year. Come out and support your fellow Bulldogs!

I am thrilled to share that applications are now open for Girls Who Code’s Pathways summer program! 

Pathways is a free, virtual program that empowers high school girls and non-binary students of all experience levels — including rising 9th graders, graduating seniors, and returning participants — to explore AI, Game Design, Cybersecurity, and more, while learning how to build tech for good. The program is entirely flexible in how participants choose to learn and requires no prior coding experience. Students complete courses at their own pace over seven weeks, from June 29 to August 14.

Beyond coding, students gain real-world insights through Partner Events with leading tech organizations, connect with peers through Girls Who Code’s private Discord community, and join optional Student Hours for live support. Participants earn a certificate for each completed course and join Girls Who Code’s lifelong alumni network, gaining access to mentorship, internships, and career opportunities in tech.

Students can apply by February 25th for priority consideration. The application closes on April 10th.

Could you pass along our flyer and share this email with your team so interested students can apply? We would love to meet them this summer! 

Best,
Ashley

Ashley Woodard
Regional Outreach Coordinator
Ashley.Woodard@girlswhocode.com

Sign up for updates on Summer Programs 2025!
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I am happily reaching out on behalf of Sister Cities of Durham and Thousand Miles Initiative to share an exciting opportunity for your students: the 2026 Teach-in-China Program.

Each year, we are amazed by the teens who volunteer with Sister Cities. In fact, a current DSA Senior, Cora Williamson participated in our International Youth Leadership Summit held last June in Washington, DC; Cora continues her involvement with SCD and would be happy to speak to you about the Leadership summit.  The deadline for the Summit is February 1st. (Info attached)

Our young people’s commitment to service, cultural exchange, and global learning is inspiring, and I know your school values these same qualities. Last summer, we had a student team engage in an unforgettable experience teaching English and building friendships at Zhuzhou No. 2 High School in Hunan Province, China. Please take a few minutes to go over their Journeys of Growth: 2025 Teach-in-China Program Overview. We are thrilled to offer this opportunity again.

This year’s program will take place June 15–26, 2026, and we hope to recruit 10–12 outstanding high school students who are eager to learn, lead, and explore.  We are starting our outreach specifically to DSA with the goal of filling half of the open slots from your school.  

Program Overview

Students will travel to Zhuzhou, Durham’s sister city in China, to:

• Teach English to local students

• Share American culture

• Participate in cultural experiences and school life

• Build meaningful cross-cultural friendships

It’s more than a trip — it’s a life-shaping leadership and learning experience.

Training

Participants will attend 3–4 required training sessions before leaving, which include teaching practice, cultural preparation, logistics, and team coordination.

Logistics & Estimated Cost

• Lodging: school dorms

• Estimated total: $3,000, covering flights, passport/visa fees, in-country lodging, meals, transportation, sightseeing, and chaperone costs.  We do plan to fundraise with the students selected.

Timeline

Form Team: Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026

Training: 3–4 sessions, March – May 2026

We would be grateful if you could help share this opportunity with students who may be interested.

raph block.

SECU People Helping People Scholarship

Eligibility:

• SECU member or eligible for membership through a parent/guardian

• Accepted and plans to attend one of the 16 UNC system universities 

• Unweighted GPA of 2.5 or higher 

• Exhibited leadership, excellence of character, integrity, and community involvement

• Filed FAFSA as part of the application

Visit the scholarship page for more information and scholarship opportunities: https://sites.google.com/dpsnc.net/dsastudentservices/12th-grade/scholarships?authuser=0

Please take a few minutes to share your feedback about the PTSA. You can take the survey in English at https://forms.gle/jHLwGKoHDsg5UZ8n7 or in Spanish at https://forms.gle/Harviu9nEZpAnFtX8

Learn more at the Durham School of the Arts PTSA website: https://dsaptsa.givebacks.com/

Please join us at an upcoming PTSA general body meeting:

• Jan. 22

• March 19

All are welcome! Stay tuned for zoom links for virtual attendance. The September and March meetings will also be held in person.

Welcome back to school! It's time to join or re-join the PTSA for the 2025-26 school year. Please visit our giveback page for memberships bit.ly/joindsaptsa. We would love your support.

Our 2025-26 board members are:

President: Stephanie Hawver
Vice President 1: Brittney McGraw
Vice President 2: Ashanti Smith-Watson
Treasurer: Maryann Ruiz-Heard
Secretary: Dr. Danielle Sutton

We look forward to continuing to support DSA this year!

Rather than host multiple fundraisers throughout the year, we do one annual campaign. This year, our campaign goal is to raise $20,000. If each family made a gift of $25, we could easily exceed our goal! (You, of course, can give more.)

NO amount is too small, as anything we raise directly benefits the students of DSA. Please consider making a donation to help to ensure that current and future students have a great experience at DSA. There are two ways to make your tax-deductible donation:

• Make a donation online at: https://www.givebacks.com/donate/dsaptsa

• Send a check payable to DSA PTSA and mail it to the school:

400 N. Duke St.
Durham, NC 27701

Any DSA student who is requesting an N.C. Driving Eligibility Certificate must pass 5 of their 7 classes and submit their Drivers Ed certificate to the main office before school, during lunch or after school before 4 p.m. Once the office receives the Drivers Ed certificate, the student will receive the N.C. Eligibility form within 48 hours. Please note that the certificate is only valid for 30 days. Please ensure that you have scheduled your appointment with the DMV.